Furnace



Aug. 31, 1926. 1,598,579

J. VAN BRUNT ET AL FURNACE Filed May 28, 1924 m lll/111111111711111111111/ .---73 1 82 gva V l.

54 INVENTOR S Patented Aug. 3l, 1926.

FUBNACE.

Our invention relates to furnaces, and has special reference to furnaces that are particularl adapted for household use.

An object of the invention is to rovide a novel and improved furnace of thls character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a furnace of this character which is of simple construction and highly efficient, and in which the feeding of thel fuel and the discharge of the refuse of the fuel from the furnace grate are effected automatically.

A further object of the invention is to rovide a furnace of the character indicated aving novel and improved air supplying means.

The several features of the invention,

whereby the above mentioned and other ob- 24 jects may be attained, will be clearly under stood from the followin descriptlon and accompanying drawings, 1n which,

igure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view,

partl in elevation, of a furnace embodying the fleatures of the invention in their preferred form;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same partly broken away and with the furnace wall shown in section; and

Fig. 3 is a detail enlarged scale, taken Fig. 2.

The furnace illustrated in the drawings is provided with a cylindrical wall 2 and an annular grate 4 mounted concentrically therein. The fuel is fed upwardly through the central openin of the grate from a hopper 6 by means o a feed screw 8 which is arranged in a conduit 10 connecting the hopper with the central opening in the grate. 1y

sectional view, on an 8 on the line 3 3 of he grate is curved upwardly and outwardfrom its inner peri hery to substantial] an intermediate annular portion 12, and 1s curved or inclined from said annular portion downwardlyto the outerV periphery thereof. The top surface of the grate is provided with narrow grooves 14 and ridges 15 alternately arranged and extendingI from a point in proximity to the inner periphery to the outer periphery of the grate. the side d walls of the grooves and ridges bein arranged radially, and the grooves and ridges being of substantially equal width. The upwardly and outwardly curved portion of the grate is provided with a series of narrow elongated slots 16, and the outer portion of the grate is provided with a series of narrow elongated slots 18 having their outer ends spaced from the outer periphery of the grate, both series of slots opening up through the bottom walls of the grooves 14. The under side of the grate is provided with two concentricallv arranged annular ribs or flanges 20 a jacent the ends of the slots 18 providing part of the structure defining an air passage leading into the slots. The grate is supported by a supporting ring 22, the inner rib or fiauge 20 fitting over a shou1- der on the supporting ring, and the grate being secured to the ring by means of screws he supporting ring 22 is in turn supported by the top wall of an annular pan or casing 26, the supporting ring having a depending flange 28 engaging the inner peripheral surface of the casing. The annular casing 26 is provided with an inner wall 30, a bottom wall 32, and a top wall 34, the outer edge of which has a depending flange 36 which together with a sheet metal .cylinder 38 forms the outer wall of the casthrough a conduit 42 which extends through an opening in the wall of the furnace and its inner end, which is in the form of an elbow, surrounds the fuel feeding conduit 10 and is connected with an opening in the outer wall 38 of the casing. The conduit 42 is provided with a damper 43 for controlling the supply of air therethrough.

The top wall 34 of the annular casing is provided with a series of equally spaced circular apertures 44 which are adapted to be opened and closed as desired by means of a the apertures 44, so that by shifting the damper circumferentially the apertures 44 may be opened and closed varying degrees as desired. The inner periphery of the damper 46 is in sliding engagement with a shoulder foi-ined on the outer surface of the supporting ring 22 and the outer periphery of the damper is provided with an upstanding flange 50 which is in sliding engagement with the outer side of the outer annular flange 20 on the under side of the grate. With this construction it will be apparent that the air supply to the outer series of air openings or slots 18 may be controlled by the damper 46 independently of the air supply to the air openings or slots 16, the depending flanges 20 defining an annular air passage leading into the slots 18. The damper 46 is adapted to be adjusted by means of a hand operated lever 51 pivotally mounted at one end on the outside of the furnace wall. The lever is connected with the damper by means of a link 52 extending through an aperture in the furnace wall and having its inner end pivotally connected with a, pivot pin on the horizontal portion of a lug 53 projecting downwardly and then outwardly from the outer periphery of .the damper, the hand-operated lever 51 being held in adjusted position by the engagement of a spring-pressed locking detent 54 with one of a series of notches in a segment 55 secured to the furnace wall.

The furnace is further provided with an annular shaker plate 55, the inner portion of which extends a distancebeneath the outer portion of the grate 4 and is arranged closely adjacent thereto, and its outer periphery is spaced a distance from the furnace wall 2, the space beneath the shaker plate and between the furnace wall and annular pan or casing 26 providing an annular ash pit. The shaker plate is rovided with an upstanding flange 56 at its inner periphery for preventing ashes from working back over its inner edge, and is further provided with a depending strengthening iange 58 on the under side of its outer periphery, the outer peripheral surface of the plate being inclined downwardly and outwardly. The shaker plate is su ported upon the outer ends of a series o links 60, having their outer ends provided with slightly elongated slots for receiving pins or studs 62 projecting from bosses on the under side of the plate, and having their inner ends pivotally mounted on pins or studs 64 projecting upwardly from supporting lugs 66 on the casing flange 36.

During the operation of the furnace the shaker plate 54 is oscillated circumferentially so as to eifect the required shaking action, through connection with a shaft 68 that carries the feed screw 8. The connection between the shaker plate and said shaft comprises a link 7 O having one end pivotally mounted on a pin 72 on the under side of the shaker plate, and having its other end pivotally connected with the outer end of an arm 74, the link 7() extending through an aperture 76 in the furnace wall 2. The arm 74 is secured on the upper end of a rock shaft 78 that is mounted in a vertical bearing in a bracket 80 secured to the furnace wall. An arm 82 is secured on the lower end of the rock shaft 78 and its free end is provided with a cam roll 84 that engages a cam 86 carried by the feed screw shaft 68, the cam roll being held against the cam by means of a coiled spring 88 connected with the rear arm 74.

The fuel feeding conduit 10 comprises a horizontal pipe 90 that extends through the air inlet opening in the annular casin 30 and through an opening in the outer eige of the elbow at the inner end of the air inlet pipe 42, the latter opening beine provided with a flange 91 that embraces he pipe 90 and forms an air-tight joint therewith. The inner end of the pipe 90 extends through an opening in the furnace wall and is conneeted with a discharge opening in the hopper 6, and its inner end is connected by an elbow 92 with a short vertical pipe 94 which flares upwardly and outwardly, the elbow 92 being provided with a supporting base 95 that rests upon the base 96 of the furnace. The pipe 94 has an u standing flange 98 on its upper end which ts into an annular recess in the inner side of the inner periphery of the grate. The feed screw 8 closely fits in the horizontal portion of the conduit 10 and its shaft extends through and is journaled in a bearing 100 on the outer wall of the hopper 6. It has been found that with the feed screw closely fitting the conduit that a bearing for the inner end of the shaft 68 is unnecessary, the shaft being cut off at the inner end of the feed screw so as not to interfere with the passage of the fuel from the horizontal portion of the conduit through the elbow 92 and into the vertical portion 94 of the conduit. An intermittent feeding movement is imparted to the screw 8 through any suitable variable speed driving connection with the outer end of the shaft.

It will be a parent that during the operation of the urnace the feed screw 8 will act to feed the fuel from the hopper 6 through the horizontal portion of the conduit 10, up through the short vertical pipe 94 and then up through the central opening of the grate, the fuel being burned as it passes over the grate and the refuse of the fuel being deposited upon the shaker plate 55 from which it is discharged into the ash pit beneath. It may be noted that the fuel passing over the air slots 16 of the grate is underfed and that the fuel passing over the -lar portion thereof, and

said intermediate air slots 18 is overfed, so that the grate is provided with both an underfeed section and an overfeed section both of which aire active grate sections. The dam r 46 permits the air su ply to the overfee section to be controlled) independently of the air supply to the underfeed section to meet diEerent conditions. The fuel is forced down over the overeed section by the incomin fuel, and the operation of the shaker p ate assists in feeding the fuel down over said overfeed section and depositing the refuse of the fuel u on the shaker plate, the agitation of the p ate causing the refuse to be finally dischar ed into the ash pit, It will 'be apparent t at there is an effective air supply to the fuel throughout its traverse over the grate so that com lete combustion of the fuel 1s assured. As t e o eration of the shaker plate is accomplishe through connection with the feed screw driving s aft 68 it will be apparent' that the refuse is discharged in direct roportion to the feeding of the fuel and hence to the consumption of the fuel by combustion.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, our invention permits of various modiiications without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

.1. A furnace having, annular grate having an inner and an `outer series of air openings, an ash pit for receiving the refuse discharged vfrom said grate, controllable means for supplyin air to both series of air openings, indepen ently of the ash pit, and means for controlling the supply of air to the outer series of openings independently of the air supply in the inner series.

2. A furnace having, in co binaton, an annular grate .inclined upwar y from near its inner peri hery to an intermediate annular portion t ereof, and then downwardly toward its outer periphery, Yand having a series of 'air openings at both sides of said intermediate portion an ash pit for receiveing the refuse discharged from said grate, means for supplying air to said openings independently of the ash pit, means for controllingthe supply of air to the outer series o f openin independently of the suppl of air to sai inner series, and means for fb ing fuel upwardly through the central opening of the 'grate 3. A' furnace havin in combination, an annular grate inclinedg upwardly from' near its inner periphery to an intermediate annuthen downwardly toward itsouter periphery, and having a series of air openings at opposite sides of portion, an Vash pit for receiving the refuse discharged from said grate, separate air passages leading to the two series of openings independently of the in combination, an-

- through the the outer edge ash it, means for controlling the supplyof air t rough at least one of said passages 1ndependently of the other, and means for feeding fuel upwardly through the central opening of the ate. l

4. A furnace aving, in combination an annular grate having an -outer series and an inner series of air openings, an ash pit for receiving the refuse dischard from said grate, means for feeding el upwardly through the central opening in the grate and outwardly over the outer periphe thereof, a shaking device for receiving t e refuse of the fuel as it leaves the outer edge of the grate and for discharging the refuse therefrom, means for supp yin air to the two series of openin s indepen ently of the ash pit, and means ger controlling the supply of air to the outer series of openin dependently of the series.

5. A furnace having, annular inair supply to the inner in combination, an ate having an inner and outer series of air openings, a shaking'device'comprising an annular member .arranged adjacent the outer edge of said grate for receiving the refuse as it is discharged from said grate means for circumferentially oscillating said member so as to effect the discharge of the -refuse from the outer edge thereof, an a'sh pit for receiving the refuse discharged from said shaking device, and controllable means for sup-pl ing air to both series of air openings in t e grate independently of the ash pit, w

6.A furnace having, stationary annular grate, and outwardly fromnear its inner to an intermediateannular and then downardly toward its outer peri hery, means for feeding fuel upwa y central opening in the grate and outwardly in combination, a

periphe an annular dead plate arranged substantie y horizontally in' close proximity to the underside of the outer edge of said ate and projecting outwardly beyond sai outer edge Yfor receiving the refuse as it leaves the ate, said plate being adapted to be osc' ated with relation to said grate so as tol thereof.

7. A furnace having, in combination, a casin'g'vertically arranged, an annular grate mounted upon the upper end of said casing, means for feeding fuel Aupwardly through the central -'opening .in the grate and outwardly over its outer edge, a shaking device for receiving the refuse of the fuel from the grate, comprising an annular plate ar. ranged, beneath and projecting beyond the outer edge o f the grate, means .for supporting said plate ,for oscillating movement 4coinprising a plurality of bracket members'having inner ends pivotally mounted on said portion thereo l inclined upwardly los over its outer edge, a Shak# Aing device comprisin ilo casing, and their outer ends pivotally conproximity to the under side of the outer edge nected with said plate, and means 'for Oscilof the grate, and projectin outwardly from lating the plate. beyond 'said outer edge 01' receiving the l 8. A furnace having, in combination, a refuse as it leaves the grate, said plate being stationary annular grate inclined downadapted to be oseillated oircumferentially wardly from an intermediate annular porwith relation to said grate so as to discharge tion thereof toward its outer periphery, powthe refuse over the outer edge thereof, and er operated means for feeding fuel upwardpower operated means Jfor oscillating said 20 ly through the central opening in the grate plate in timedv relation to the operation of f and outwardly over its outer edge, a shalng said fuel feeding means. device comprising an annular dead plate .JOHN VAN BRUNT. arranged substantially horizontally in close SIGURD J. A. WEBE.

casin and their outer ends pivotally oonnecte with said plate, and means for oscillating the plate.

8. A furnace having, in combination, a stationarv annular grate inclined downwardly from an intermediatev annular portion thereof toward its outer periphery, power o erated means for feeding fuel upwardly t irough the central opening inthe grate and outwardly over its outer edge, a shaking device comprising an annular dead plate arranged substantlally horizontally in close proximity to the under side ofthe outer edge of the grate, and projecting outwardly from beyond said outer edge or receiving the l refuse as it leaves the grate, said platezbeing adapted to be oscillated circumfercntially with relation to said grate so as to discharge the refuse over the outer edge thereof, and power operated means for oscillating said 20 plate in timed relation to the operation of said fuel feedin means.

. OHN VAN BRUNT.

SIGURD J. A. WEBE.

Certificate of Correction.

Itis hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,598,57 9, granted August 31, 1926,

ai on `the a plication of Vsiebe, of IBaast Grange, specification requiring in read to; and that Signed and sealed this 5th [man1 John Van Brun't of Flushing, New Jersey, for Furnaces, correction as follows: Page 3,

the said Letters Patent should be read rein that the same may conform to the reoord'o'f` the oase m day of October, A.

New York, and Sigurd A. an error appears in the' printed line 39, ela I', for the word with this correction the Patent Oice.

M. J. MOORE, Acting amwwismwr'of Patents.

Certieate of Corrtion.

It is horeby certified that in Letters Patent. No. 1,598,579, granted A' 31, 1926,

u n .the a. plcation of John Van Brunt 0i Flushing, Now York, and d J. A. vg? wt I u lobe, .of Orange, New @man for Furnaces, an error a. p earsn e prnte@ n fgecction requiring correction as follows: Pa?x 3, Ime 39, c 1, f or thowor road to andthat the said Letters Patent uuid be read with thls oon-echen therein that o same may conform to t-h reeordof tha cose in the Patent Oce.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of Otqber, A. D. 1926.

J. MOORE,

[Ml M'. l

Acting Umna 'bf Patents 

